Humidifier



Feb. 17, 1942. ALDOLE 2,273,092

HUMIDIFIER Filed July 27, 1940 INVENTOR -"eorye J ,Da/e BY ATTORNEYPatented Feb. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUMIDIFIER George A.D0le, Minneapolis, Minn. Application July 2'7, 1940, Serial No. 347,921

4 Claims.

My invention relates to humidifier and more particularly to a humidifierwhich is operated in connection with a suitable source of steam supply,for instance, a radiator in the steam heating system for an ofiicebuilding, a manufacturing plant, an apartment, a dwelling or the like.The steam heating system in which the improved humidifier is embodiedmay be either the ordinary pressure or a vacuum system having a slightpressure on the radiator.

It is an object of this invention to provide an extremely simple andhighly efiicient humidifier that can be very easily and quicklyinstalledand connected to a steam radiator without tapping said radiatorfor a steam connection or making any changes whatsoever therein, or canalso be attached by tapping into any steam supply.

A further object of the invention is to collect any condensation thatmay take place in the improved humidifier and re-evaporate the same,

tion consists of the novel devices and combination of deviceshereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanyin drawing, which illustrates the invention, likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. l is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing the inventionembodied in a steam radiator;

Fig. 2 is a view of the controller in central vertical section, on anenlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the distributor, the drain pan andthe curtain, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse vertical section taken on the irregularline 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 and Fig. '7 are views in transverse vertical section taken onlines 6-6 and LJ of Fig. 4, respectively, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 8 is a view in central vertical section, showing a different typeof controller; and

Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on'the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

The numeral Ill indicates a, radiator forming a part of a steam heatingsystem, not shown, and comprising a plurality of sections, each of whichincludes a plurality of columns. Formed with the'right-hand' end sectionof the radiator Ill, at the upper end portion thereof, is a boss I Ihaving an internally screw-threaded opening provided to receive thecustomary pet cock or an automatic air valve, not shown. Steam isconveyed through the opening in the boss H to the improved humidifier aswill presently'appear.

Referring first to the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, whichincludes a steam controller l2, a vapor distributor l3, and aco-operating drain pan l4 and a curtain l5 for collecting andre-vaporizing condensation. The controller I2 includes inner and outerconcentric, vertically disposed, cylindrical shells or casings I 6 andI1, respectively. These shells l6 and I! are spaced the one from theother to form an air-tight insulating chamber l8 that completelysurrounds the shell Hi. This chamber I8 is filled with ground cork :r orany other suitable insulating material.

A perforated pipe I9 extends axially within the shell l6 which issteam-tight and said shell is filled with ground cork y or any othersuitable material that would act as a silencer for steam discharged intosaid shell through the pipe l9. The pipe I9, at its upper end, has animperfo'rate section 20 that extends through the chamber 18 and theshell I1, at the top thereof and outwardly of said shell. A steam pipe2! at its intake end has screw-threaded engagement with the boss llandsaid pipe is connected at its discharge end to the pipe section 20.Interposed in the steam pipe 2| is a control valve 22 and a check valve23. The purpose of the check valve 23 is to prevent air from enteringthe radiator I!) from the controller I2 when there is no pressure onradiator 10.

The drain pan l4 and the distributor l3, which are relatively thin, areinterposed longitudinally between the columns of certain of the sectionsof the radiator 10. Saiddrain pan M is loosely upported on the lowertransverse portions of the respective sections of the radiator l Thedistributor l3, which is above the drain pan l4 and of substantially thesame length, has at its outer or intake end an expansion chamber 24. Theperforated pipe l9 has at its lower end a radially extended imperforatesection 25 which extends through the compartment I 8 and the shell I!and outwardly of' said shell. A vapor pipe 26 connects the pipe section25, at itsouter.

end, to the distributor l3 at its expansion chamber 24. The distributorI3 has in its top a narrow vapor discharge slot or orifice 21 whichextends the full length of said distributor and its expansion chamber24. Leading from the distributor l3, at it inner end and in the bottomthereof, is a very short depending drain pipe 28. The drain pipe 28 isarranged to discharge into the drain pan M at its inner end.

The curtain l which is vertically disposed between the distributor l3and the drain pan I4 is made of blotting paper, or any other suitableabsorbent material held in a marginal rectilineal copper frame 29. loweredge of its frame 29, on the bottom of the drain pan l4 midway betweenthe sides thereof and extends substantially the full length of saiddrain pan. frame 29 extends into notche 30 in the lower end of the drainpipe 28 and thereby holds the curtain l5 upright midway between thesides of the distributor l3.

The operation of the improved humidifier may be briefly described asfollows:

When the control valve 22 is open, live steam from the radiator I 0travels through the pipe 2 I, the valves 22 and 23, the pipe section andinto the perforated pipe 19 where it enters the shell l6 of thecontroller l2. Obviously, the pressure of the steam, upon entering thepipe l9 and the shell I1, is reduced and the reduced pressure and thecork y eliminates all noise of the steam escaping from the radiator 13.As a result of the reduction of the pressure of the steam entering thecontroller I12, a lazy vapor is produced and moves from said controllerthrough the pipe section and the pipe 26 into theexpansion chamber 24 ofthe distributor I3.

Vapor in the expansion chamber 24 travels along the distributor l3 andthen escapes through the slot 2'! into the spaces between the sectionsand columns of the radiator Ill. Air heated by the radiator l0 whilepassing upwards absorbs vapor escaping from the distributor l3 and thehot air, moisture laden, moves upwards into the room.

It may be here stated that steam taken from the radiator I0 is composedwholly of water and vapor delivered by the distributor I3 is also whollywater in vapor suspension, of substantially one hundred per cent (100%)relative humidity and practically at saturation point. Any condensationoccurring between the radiator l0 and the delivery end of thedistributor l3 will be precipitated through the spout 28 directly intothe drain pan [4 or onto the curtain 15. Condensation collected in thedrain pan l4, aided by the curtain l5, will be re-evaporated by theradiator heat into the air passing upwards through the radiator II].

This re-evaporation of condensation collected in the drain pan l4 andheld in the curtain I5 is highly important as it avoids the need of adrainage system. A drainage system for a humidifier would be expensive,especially when installed in an old building, and often the structure ofsuch a building makes it impractical to install such a system.

Referring now to the controller 3| shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the numerals32 and 33 indicate, respectively, inner and outer shells spaced the onefrom the other to afford an insulating chamber 34, that is filled withground cork at or any other suitable insulating material. A perforatedcoiled pipe 35 extends axially within the shell 32 and Said curtain l5rests, at the The upper member of the curtain has imperforate endsections 36 and 31, the former of which extends axially through theshells 32 and 33 at the top thereof and the latter of which extendsradially through said shells at the bottom thereof. The pipe endsections 36 and 31 correspond to the end sections 20 and 25 of theperforated pipe 19. The shell 32 is filled with ground cork y thatcompletely surrounds the pipe 35. The action of the controller 3| is thesame as that of the controller l2.

In actual installation of the above described humidifier, the same maybe automatically controlled, for instance, by attaching a solenoid valveto the steam pipe 2| and wiring it to a Humitrol located on an adjacentwall. With the Humitrol pointer set at the per cent of humidity desiredin the building served, the humidifier will operate or'shut down so asto sustain the per cent, desired.

The drawing illustrates a commercial form of the invention, but it willbe understood that the same is capable of certain modifications as todetails of construction, arrangement and combination of parts within thescope of the invention herein disclosed.

The noteworthy thing about the improved humidifier is that, given aproper steam supply, this small device will deliver moisture into abuilding at the rate of approximately one gallon each hour with acondensation of approximately one quart each twenty-four hours. Thisevidences that the drain pan purpose is to avoid the installation costof a drainage system, as the humidity from a quart-of condensation wouldbe comparatively insignificant.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a radiator and a steam supply therefor, of ahumidifier means mounted on the radiator and including a long narrowclosed distributor, one end portion of which is enlarged to afford anexpansion chamber at the distributor steam inlet, said distributorhaving in its top a narrow orifice extending substantially the fulllength of the distributor, and means for taking steam from the radiatorand discharging the same into the expansion chamber.

2. The combination with a radiator and a.

steam supply therefor, of a humidifier means mounted on the radiator andincluding a long narrow closed distributor having in its top a narrowdischarge orifice extending substantially the full length thereof, meansfor taking steam from the radiator and discharging the same into thedistributor at one end thereof, a long narrow drain pan directly underthe distributor, and a curtain made of absorbent material between thedistributor and the drain pan, said distributor having at its oppositeend from its steam intake an aperture through which condensation in thedistributor is drained onto the curtain and into the drain pan, thelower end portion of the curtain being in the drain pan for removingcondensation therefrom by capillary attraction.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 which further includes a rigidmarginal frame for the curtain, said frame loosely resting on the bottomof the drain pan and supporting the curtain therefrom, and means on thedistributor releasably holding the curtain in an upright position.

4. The combination with a radiator and a steam supply therefor, of ahumidifier means mounted on the radiator and including a long narrowclosed distributor having in its top a narrow discharge orificeextending substantially the full length thereof, means for taking steamfrom the radiator and discharging the same into the distributor at oneend thereof, a long narrow drain pan directly under the distributor, anda curtain made of absorbent material between the distributor and thedrain pan, said distributor having at its opposite end from its steamintake a short depending discharge spout through which

